The Network Negotiating Committee (NNC) and representatives from ABC/Disney resumed contract negotiations on Monday, January 30, 2017 in New York City.

During the week of face-to-face talks, the Union amplified to Company representatives the many concerns expressed by members at NABET meetings held in New York, Washington, Chicago and California during December and January.

The Company had initially proposed severe cuts to the “Opportunity to Eat” payments, but moderated that proposal based on reports from around the country that the membership expressed strong opposition to the proposed reduction. The union is still fighting a company proposal designed to eliminate night shift differential for represented employees at ABC owned television stations. Discussions continued regarding the impact of the Company’s plan to transfer NABET work from the Network Distribution Center in Los Angeles to a non-union Disney cable facility.

The union made significant progress on two critical provisions for daily hires: a paid sick leave structure and enhancements to the “Payment in Lieu of Benefits” provision. The NNC is also pressing hard to achieve short-turn around pay for certain groups of daily hires and improvements to the “travel-only day” stipend. In addition, the parties exchanged proposals focused on improving the retroactive “pop-up” formula for the accrual rate in the ABC-NABET Retirement Trust. To date, the parties have reached tentative agreement in dozens of areas.

Critical issues remain affecting Newswriters at KABC, WLS, and KGO. NABET is seeking to gain 'pay seniority' rights for Daily Hire Newswriters in California which would guarantee higher wages based on how long these Newswriters have worked at the stations. In return, the company is proposing a new two-tier wage scale -- with lower rates for new employees. Future progressions to the top wage scale would be at the sole discretion of management.

For the first time in these negotiations, ABC presented a wage proposal (1.5% in each year of the contract) and the Union countered with a 3% per year wage increase.

Full updated copies of NABET-CWA and ABC proposals will be posted on the websites of Locals 16, 31, 41 and 51 early next week.

The next round of talks has been scheduled March 6th - 8th in New York City